Sermons on How To Be Close To God:

How To Pray A Perfect Prayer

Contributed by Rick Crandall on May 20, 2011

There are only 66 words in the Lord’s Prayer, but it can teach us how to pray a perfect prayer. 1. Focus on your Father. 2. Focus on your family. 3. Focus on your faith. 4. Focus on your forgiveness. 5. Focus on your future.

How to Pray a Perfect Prayer Matthew 6:9-13 Sermon by Rick Crandall McClendon Baptist Church - February 24, 2008 (Revised March 6, 2021 to correct my error about this being the same prayer as the Lord's Prayer in Luke 11:1-4) BACKGROUND: *Do you ever wish you could learn how to pray better? ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:9-13

Denomination: Baptist

How Series

Contributed by Gordon Pike on Nov 8, 2020

How do you go from deep despair to the heights of joy? Psalm 22 holds the key.

“ … when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered [Jesus] wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when He tasted it, He would not drink it. And when they had crucified Him, they divided His clothes among themselves by casting lots; then they sat down there and ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 27:32-46

Denomination: United Methodist

How To Get Answers To Prayer

Contributed by Paul Shafit on Jun 9, 2014

God gets our attention His own way

How To Get Answers To Prayer (Jonah 1:1- 2:1) Do you have a prayer life? Does God respond to your prayers? When you pray, does your prayer move God? Most of the time we go to God when we get into trouble and expect Him to respond to us positively in our time of need, even though we don't have a ...read more

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How To Pray For A Nation Series

Contributed by Brian Bill on May 20, 2003

Let me give you my proposition right at the beginning: “God’s people following God’s plan receive God’s promises.” When we do what God says we will enjoy His promises. We are blessed when we do things God’s way. Let’s explore together about what the Bib

How to Pray for a Nation Happy Independence Day! You are part of the faithful remnant that has remained behind this holiday weekend. As we focus on our nation this morning, it’s good to be an American, isn’t it? • Only in America…do banks leave both doors open and then chain the pens to the ...read more

Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14

Denomination: Baptist

How To Pray With Power Series

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Jan 28, 2020

How can we pray with power? 1. We must take action by asking. 2. We must expand our expectations. 3. We must lift up our prayers in the Lord's name. 4. We must count on the Lord's commitments.

How to Pray with Power The Gospel of John John 14:12-14 (Read vs. 1-14) Sermon by Rick Crandall Grayson Baptist Church - August 9, 2017 (Revised January 28, 2020) BACKGROUND: *Here in the last few hours before the cross, Jesus spoke to His disciples about the most important things, and one of ...read more

Scripture: John 14:12-14

Denomination: Baptist

How To Fail Well Series

Contributed by Emile Wolfaardt on May 7, 2009

(PowerPoint Slides and Cell Study Notes freely available by emailing Emile@Wolfaardt.com) Learning how to turn failures in to victories....

Series - "Living Life to the Full" How to Fail Well (LTF-05) 2 Timothy 2:13 Have you wondered why we all love stories where, despite insurmountable odds and against unstoppable enemies, the little guy fights his way to the top and the bad guys get their comeuppance? Nearly 35 years ago on October ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:13

Denomination: *other

Prescription For Happiness Sermon Iii: Be Meek Series

Contributed by Charles Cunningham on Dec 22, 2019

Who doesn't want to be happy! Strength of character that derives from a close relationship with God in Christ motivates mature Christians to realize the full potential of the new life in Christ God has given us.

PRESCRIPTION FOR HAPPINESS The Beatitudes – Matthew 5:1-12 Everybody I know wants to be happy. However, it appears to me that some folks may not understand what true happiness ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-2, Matthew 5:5

How To Be A Priest

Contributed by Craig Condon on Mar 21, 2015

So how are we like priests? We are appointed by God. We sacrifice ourselves and our desires to God. We continually pray to God about the human condition.

Each and every one of us can be a priest! Does that statement make sense to you? After all, when we hear the word “priest” we often think of the ordained clergy who preside at weddings, funerals, baptisms or weekly worship services. The truth is, we are all priests. Let me explain by ...read more

Scripture: Hebrews 5:5-10

Denomination: Anglican

How To Hear The Voice Of The Lord Series

Contributed by Edward Hardee on Sep 30, 2012

Message about Authentic Christianity: Those who listen to the leading of His Spirit.

Title: How to Hear the Voice of God Theme: To show how to hear the voice of the Lord and to listen Text: 1 Samuel 3:1 Introduction Over the last month or so we have been talking about Authentic Christianity. We have been working on an understanding about what it is to be an authentic ...read more

Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:1-6

Denomination: Church Of God

Go Make Disciples

Contributed by Kevin Ruffcorn on Apr 11, 2005

God’s call is for every Christian. We have been given the good news of God’s love and forgiveness so that we can share it with everyone we meet.

Matthew 28:19-20 “Go Make Disciples” INTRODUCTION It had been an afternoon filled with sledding and enjoying the recent six-inch snowfall for my two sons and their friends. Faye and I decided to help the boys warm up with mugs of hot chocolate. The next time they came in to warm up we ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 28:19-20

Denomination: Lutheran

The Place Of Prayer And The Open Heart

Contributed by Steve Shepherd on Feb 3, 2008

Some "musts" for the Christian when it comes to the matter of prayer. 1- We must find God’s place 2- We must listen to God’s Word 3- We must respond to God’s will

INTRO. - ILL.- Shortly after the US Supreme Court outlawed prayer in public schools, a pupil in class heard her teacher sneeze and said, "God bless you." The teacher said, "Cut that out or we’ll both be in trouble." ILL.- One person said, "Now that there’s no more praying in schools, kids will ...read more

Scripture: Acts 16:11-15

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

How She's Made

Contributed by Monty Newton on May 9, 2010

When we know how intricately, wonderfully and purposefully a person is made, we appreciate that person much more.

Title: How She’s Made Text: Proverbs 31:10-31 Thesis: When we know how intricately, wonderfully and purposefully a person is made, we appreciate that person much more. Introduction “How It’s Made” is a really interesting TV Series that airs on the Discovery Channel ...read more

Scripture: Proverbs 31:10-21

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

How To Be Useable For The Lord

Contributed by Grant Adams on Jul 12, 2022

God does demand usefulness in our lives, Matthew 25:15. It should be an earnest desire to be used of God, 1 Corinthians 9:19-27

God does demand usefulness in our lives, Matthew 25:15, 19, 24-26. it should be an earnest desire, a continual aching in her heart to be used of God, 1 Corinthians 9:19-27. what one thing are you allowing God to do through you? Let me say these things about being used of the Lord: no one ever ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 25:15, 1 Corinthians 9:19-27, Exodus 3:1-12

Denomination: Baptist

How To Handle A Shipwreck Series

Contributed by David Owens on Aug 29, 2016

In this sermon, we explore Paul's shipwreck and learn lessons for our life about the anchors God provides in the storms of life.

Introduction: A. When I was growing up, one of my favorite TV shows was the silly comedy “Gilligan’s Island.” 1. Every episode opened with the catchy theme song that introduced the plight of the group. 2. “Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale, A tale of a fateful trip, ...read more

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

How To Identify A Sinner

Contributed by David Zachrich on Mar 1, 2022

If you will, please tell me how you identify a … dog, a horse, a house, a car, a church, a baseball player, a circus clown, a judge, a ballerina, … a sinner?

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” Friends in Christ, If you will, please tell me how you identify a … dog, a horse, a house, a car, a church, a baseball player, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:1-3

Denomination: Lutheran